Daily Inspiration 5-3-10

"You must learn to discipline your disappointment."

-- Jim Rohn

"If we will be quiet and ready enough,

we shall find compensation in every disappointment."

-- Henry David Thoreau

Recently, I was part of an event that I thought was going to be very good and worthwhile. The day finally came and after a very short time at the event, the planning and execution seemed to be lacking a number of obvious things--at least obvious to me. I mentioned some of it to my partner, and we were both very curious. And, we could have gone on and complained the whole afternoon away and played the 'ain't it awful' game, but we have learned to discipline our disappointment and find other ways to make the time worthwhile.

Considering there weren't very many prospects coming in, we worked the room instead, meeting other vendors and passing out cards and literature. We ended up buying some of their wares and that made them happy too. Then, about midway through the event, we could see it wasn't going to get any better, so we started working on some of our clients products and discussing how we could improve them. Since my computer was there, we just got in and made things happen.

Now, what's interesting is that if I looked at the face value of the event, including the cost in time and money, I would have to say that it was a bust at best, but that's not how I see it. Instead, I see it as a huge success--not the event itself, but the fact that we attended--because, as it turned out, we found a grand benefit in a new product while we were working on a clients product. This was huge! I was so excited that we found this because it is pretty much a game changer!

You've heard of the silver lining in the cloud and I love John Wooden's famous quote, "Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out." And John is right on the money and so is Jim Rohn. After I learned how to discipline my disappointment, it is a natural event for me then, to have things turn out best because I have learned to make the best of the way things turn out.

Next time you find yourself not enjoying something, ask yourself what you can do to enjoy yourself in spite of your circumstances or location or situation. Discipline your disappointment by making the best of the way things turn out. You might even find, as we did, that it is far better than you could have imagined.

It's Only A Problem If We Focus On The Problem.

Spread Some Joy Today--Just think of all the situations you've been in where you were disappointed and discouraged. Think how different that will be now that you will discipline your disappointment!